Automatic conveyerized brazing apparatus



April 18, 1950 J, DETUNQ ETAL 2,504,815

AUTOMATIC CONVEYERIZED BRAZING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 16, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l a m D A TTOR/Vf/ April 1950 R. J. DETUNO EI'AL AUTOMATIC CONVEYERIZED BRAZING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 16, 1945 April 8, 1950 R. J. DETUNO ETAL AUTOMATIC CONVEYERIZED BRAZING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 16. 1945 azai awn ng as i atented Apr. i8,

UNITED" STATES PATENT QF F 2,504,815

w re-Mane"cosvs mizmmmme APPARATUS Rocco Jj.- Detuno, Chicago, Ill., and Howard Garbe Eau' Claire, Wis., assignors' to Western Electric Company} Incorporated, New York, N ."Y., a coriporation of New York Application-November is, 1945, Serial No. 829,166 2 cam. (01. 263-8) invention hat: is} automatic conv yorizetl brazing apparatus and more particularly to automatic apparatus for conveying andtreating sgece sae racas: prior to, during and subsequent to brazing I object of invention is th e provision of intention, there is provided, in one embodimentthereof asapplied to the brazing of copper tubes P BZ bqdi s'Q -masn trontu sen p aratus comprising an; intermittently actuated; ends p yqr hav n arr s pi o ed, he at spaced intervals for supporting depending fixtitres, to which the assemblages of; tube parts are clamped. The assemblages are carried selu i ialf r thi l ls sh sc 9m 1 tm nt brazing chamb atm s e; M e y r s arran e.

f s rai t. a. c a tently energized highfrequency coil haw i ai ea l pn uc ha i w i fl ai d recfly l er ri j df a ea of heass mbl s l r i it sl atm s he e i nd d ly pfli dtb t l hi qm ar ent'am th w ob nsmb a -a e wins tm sphe e to the brazingfchamberto protect the articles during operations onthem. Spring'returned entrance and exitdoors are arranged between the several compartmen'ts chambersandthe unloading nd-vlo P05115193 o maint in the a i gases in their respective chambers and compartents e .dQQr be pened; b th n men't therewith of an extended portion on each oi the carriers as they pass into amour of the compartments and chambers; v

Other objects and advantages of this invention will beTap'pare'nt from thefollowing detailed description taken inco'njunction with the accompanying drawings, in which I I Fig. 1 is a; fragmentaryfvertical longitudinal section,'partlyinelevation, of'an apparatus em bo dymg the features of thein'vention;

Figlz is'a'n enlarged fragmentary plan view, partly in section, taken on the line'2-2 of Fig. 1.;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged" fragmentary vertical q l schambe -an fina l 19 s .ciqln' ope to chamber t e: 11-. r eassem esel ut view,part1y in section, taken on the line 3-3 of s 1; c r c Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail side Vi w Of he c y n -an ot l r i thereonsupporting a fixture to whichis clamped a tube assemblage, the parts being-shown as they appear while i the brazing chamber with the assemblage lowered into the induction heating coil, which is shown iragmentarily; I

Fig. 5 is an end iew of the parts shownin Fig. t, looking toward the rightgend thereof. the conveyor being shown partly in section; and- Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic viewillustratin g an I electric circuit for controlling the operation of the apparatus. a a

\ Referring to the drawings in detai-l and particularly to-Fig. 1, a base or bench top It provided, upon which' are mounted spaced com partments H and 12, which are interconnected at' their lower portions by compartments or chambers l3 and M, the chamber {4 being open to communication with compartment II. A space l5 abovethecharnbers I 3 and Hand extendingbetween innerveitical opposed walls l6 and l'! o'f the spacedcompartments l] ;and J2, respectively, provides '1 an unloading and "loading pos on a whi h an? en iant removes brazetl and treated tube assemblages; indicated in general 'by the-numeral from theapparatus and.

means other assemblages to be brazed and treated thereon. In the compartment l2,the assemblages are' 'flushed w ith an inert or non oxidizing atmosphere introduced therein through an inletpipe IB prepara'tQrytQ theirentering the chamber 13; in which the brazing is effected, and the cooling chamber I4 is also supplied through an inlet pipe 20 withan inert or nonoxidizing atmosphere. A reducing atmosphere is supplied to the brazing chamber .1 3v through an: inlet pipe Zhthe-irilet pipes being supplied from suitable sources '(notshown). The pres-1 sure of the reducing atmosphere supp-lied to the brazing chamberl3 is slightly greater than the,

pressure of the non-oxidizing atmosphere supplied to the flushinglcompartment and cooling chambers I 2 and M, respectively inorder to exclude the latter atmosphere from the brazing chamber as much as is practically possible. Also, the pressure of the non-oxidizing atmosphere supplied to the compartment 12 andchamber I4 is slightly" greater than atmospheric, pressure to prevent the entrance of air'into them. lhe chamber I 4," which freely communicates with the compartment II, also servesas a cooling chamber for the assemblages l8 as they emerge from the brazing chamber. Surrounding the chamber is a jacket 8, through which a cooling fluid is circulated by inlet and outlet pipes 22 and 9, respectively, which are supplied from a suitable source (not shown).

Suitably journalled in opposite side walls of the compartments I l and I2 are horizontal shafts 23 and 24, respectively, to each of which is fixed, in similarly spaced and aligned relation, a pair of sprocket wheels 25 and 26, respectively. Extending around each set of sprocket wheels 25 and 26 are aligned sprocket chains 21 and 28, respectively, the upper lengths of the chains being intermittently advanced in unison in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 1) by means to be referred to hereinafter. The compartment Walls l6 and H and walls 3| and 32 between the compartment l2 and chamber [3 and between the latter chamber and the, chamber l4, respectively, are provided with suitably shaped openings 33 (Fig. 3) to permit the free passage of the chains 27 and 28 therethrough and the lower portions of each opening below the length of chain which passes through the openings is equipped with a pair of vertically hinged doors 34. Each door is normally maintained in a closed position by a coiled torsion spring 35. To further normally maintain the openings 33 closed, a fiap 38 of canvas is secured along its upper portion to each of the referred-to walls with its free lower edge just clearing the upper edges of the pairs of doors 34, the flap at its opposite vertical edges as viewed in Fig. 3, just clearing the inner opposed vertical faces of the chains 2? and 28. The purpose of the doors 34 and flaps 38 is to maintain the flushing compartment I2 and brazing chamber [3 closed to each other as much as is practically possible and, similarly, the chambers I 3 and M, as well as the chambers H and I2, closed to atmosphere at opposite ends of the unloading and loading position l1.

As shown in Figs. 2, 4 and '5, the chains 21 and 28 have carriers pivotally attached thereto along their lengths at equally spaced points, indicated in general at 39, each carrier comprising an elongated open frame'48 having its opposite ends tapered and rounded, as indicated at 4] and 42, for a purpose to be referred to hereinafter, and having longitudinal side bars 43. The carriers 39 are pivoted to the chains 21 and 28 and disposed between the inner opposed faces of the chains at each point of attachment by a pin 45, which extends freely through vertical apertured lugs or eyes 45 on the side bars 43 of the frame 40. Each pin 45 is connected at its ends to the chains, replacing the usual link-connecting pins of the chains at the points of attachment thereto. Spacer sleeves 41 freely surrounding the pin 45 between the faces of the side bars 42 and the adjacent sides of the chains 21 and 28 serve to maintain the carrier 39 centered therebetween. Formed integrally with the carrier frame 45 is a cross bar 48 (Figs. 2 and 4), Which is aligned with and below the pin 45. Integral with and depending from th cross bar 48 is a hook portion 49 having a recess 52 in its right side, as viewed in Fig. 4, in which is fitted a clamping lever 53 pivoted at 54 to the hook portion 49. The lever 53 has a handle 55 at its upper end and a rounded lower end face 56, which, when the lever is in its operative position, as shown in the drawings, lies over and slightly spaced from a horizontal surface 59 of a fixture, indicated in general at 88 (Fig, 4), to which is clamped the tube assemblage l8, the fixture being suspended from a horizontal surface 8i of the hook portion 49, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and being prevented from being dislodged therefrom by the lever 53.

The magnetron tube assemblage l8 to be treated and brazed comprises, referring to Figs. 4 and 5, a rectangular shaped copper shell having a pair of spaced irregular shaped flanges or fins 88 projecting from two angularly arranged faces 61 and 68 of the shell and extending beyond the planes of two other angularly arranged faces 69 and 19 of the shell. Formed in the ends of the fins 65, which extend beyond the face 69 of the shell 65, are two pairs of aligned apertures 13 and also formed in the ends of the fins which extend beyond the shell face 18 is a single pair of aligned apertures 14, the apertures I3 and 14 being used for attaching to the tube an element (not shown), which cooperates with the tube when in use. In the present apparatus, copper sleeves l5 and 16 are to be brazed to the faces 69 and 18 of the shell 85. The sleeves l5 and 15 have sealed glass envelopes or tubes 11 and 18, respectively sealed to their outer ends and have circular flanges 8| and 82, respectively, at their inner ends, which, in the operation of the apparatus, are brazed to the shell faces 69 and 18, respectively. Ringshaped pieces of silver solder 83 aand 84 are placed on the assemblage l8 surrounding the junctures of the shell faces 69 and T8 and the outer peripheries of the sleeve flanges 8i and 82, respectively, the solder being fused during the brazing operation to unite the parts of the assemblage.

The fixture 60, to which the assemblage I8 is clamped, and which is suspended from the hook portion 49 of the carrier 39, comprises two irregular shaped members 81 and 88 apertured to freely receive the glass tubes H and 18. Formed on the members 81 and 88 at their lower ends, as viewed in Fig. 4, are apertured lugs 89 and 98, respectively, which are entered between the spaced fins 66 of the tube shell 65, the apertures in I,

the lugs being aligned with the apertures 13 and 14 in the fins, and holding pins 9| are" threaded thereinto. With the members 81 and,

88 thus connected to the fins 66, the inner faces of the members 81 and 88, from which the lugs bers 81 and 88, as viewed in Fig. 4, is a link forked at opposite ends to receive the ends of the members 87 and 88, th bottom horizontal surface of the link resting on the horizontal surface 8| of the hook portion 49 of the carrier 39. Each of the members 81 and 88 is equipped with a pair of clamping screws 98, the screws of 4 each pair being arranged at diametrically opposite points of the sleeves I5 and 16 and extend through suitably arranged threaded apertures in the members so that the inner ends of the screws will engage outer annular faces of the flanges 8| and 82 of the sleeves. Upon the screws 95 being threaded inwardly, the flanges 8! and 82 may be firmly clamped to the shell faces 89 and 18 and thus firmly held during the brazing o eration. It will be understood that the tube assemblage l8 and fixture 88 are assembled inthe manner above described previous to the suspen- 15 sion of the fixture on the carrier 39.

Pivotally interconnected, as indicated at 94, to the upper ends of the mem-- wheel IIiI. is---an'-arm- -I-i2, which ispivoted on the shaft .To intermittently :actuate itheesplocket-chciins:

21 land 28 which :asupport; .theparr-iers 39, "a awl and ratchet mechanism S911 is arranged below the bench topilfl (-Fig. :1) :andtissupported on :a framework 98. This mechanism :.9licomprisesaa ratchet wheelfIDI fixedtoarotatable shaft I02. carried on the framework ,98, a retaining pawl being indicated .;at I03. 23 and I02 :are sprocket wheels .-I04--.I04.;and interconnecting the wheels is a-sprocket chain I05. vPivoteid'tothe framework 98, as indicated at I08, is an air :cylinde'r I09 having a piston rod IIO, to the outer end of which is attached a pawl I I I, which operatively engages the ratchet Pivotally attached to the pawl III I02, the arm serving to support and maintain the pawl inengagement with the ratchet wheel IOI at all times during the movement of the cylinder l09 about its pivot I08 during the advance andretraction of the piston rod I I0. Surrounding the piston rod I to and bearingatgopposite ends against a piston II5 anda wall of the cylinder I09 is a coiled spring H0, which ,is compressed when the piston is advanced .toward the left. as viewed in Fig. 1, ;to actuate the ratchet wheel IOI. The piston may be moved to the left (Fig. 1) by air under pressure admitted through an inletpipe I I-1 into the cylin der upon actuation of a solenoidactuated valve II 8, which is connected to a suitable source of air under pressure by a pipe "II9. When the valve H8 is actuated to cut the air pressure oil from the cylinder i09 and the cylinder is opened to atmosphere through the ,valveand an-outlet pipe-I22, the "compressed sprin :IIiG acts. to; return the piston H5 and the attached pawl III to its normal position as shown.

Within the brazing chamber I3, there is suitably supported a stationary high frequency heating coil I23, having the configuration shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5 and comprising multiple turns of copper tubing through which water is circulated for cooling purposes. Inverted V-shaped interconnected side arms I24 and I25 of the coil I23, shaped to provide a maximum of heating at the desired points on the tube assemblages I8, in a predetermined period of time, are so spaced apart that the assemblages may freely enter therebetween as they are intermittently advanced by the conveyor chains 21 and 28 and moved downwardly in succession into and maintained in the coil for a predetermined period of time 'for heating the same sufiiciently to cause the ring shaped pieces of solder 83 and 84 to fuse and thus braze the tube parts together. The coil I23 is periodically connected, in a manner to be presently described, to a source of high frequency current I26 (Fig. 1) by means of a pair of leads I29 and I30.

In order to lower each tube assemblage I8 into position in the coil 23-, as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, after it enters the brazing chamber I3, the conveyor chains 21 and 28 are guided over laterally spaced sets of suitably supported sprocket wheels I 3| (Fig. 1) and under rollers I32 arranged intermediate and below the sets of sprocket wheels, the rollers being carried on a shaft I33 suitably arranged relative to the coil and supported at each end in opposite Walls of the chamber I3.

Referring to Fig. 6, which illustrates diagrammatically certain portions of the apparatus and a circuit for controlling the intermittent actuation of the chain conveyor and the operation of Secured ;to the shafts the circuit to the brazing coil I 23in timed relation therewith, it will be seenthat oneofithezpins 45,.

ing device i3l, in the preferred embodiment of the invention. may be any suitablerdevice which, f

upon being operated, will move .a contact I39 to the position shown in Fig. 6 and will hold that;- contact closedfor t vo minutes and will then move it to its opposite position. When the timing device Iiil moves the contact I39 to the position shown, it will initiate operation of a timing device I38, which, upon being started in operation, will, after a two-second delay, close a contact pair I44'to render the high frequency source I28 effective. After the contact pair 144 is closed, it will remain closed under control of the timing device I38 until the contact I39 of timer IZ-il is moved to the position opposite to thatshown uponthe completion of the two-minute cycle of the timing device I33. The two-second delay by the-timing" device I38 will permit an assemblage i8, which has been stepped into the high frequency coil I23, to come to rest before the current is supplied to th coil I 23 from the source 528. When contact I39 movesto the position opposite that shown, it will mo- ,mentarily energize a sol noid I45 in a circuit from a conductor I42 of a suitable power source, through the solenoid I 48, contact I 39 and back to a conductor I43 of the power source. When contact I39 of the timing device I 31 is thus reversed, as hereinbefore described, the contact I44 of the timing device I38 will be opened.

The above-described momentary energization of the solenoid I40 will operate the air valve H8 and supply air pressure to the cylinder I09 to start the movement of the piston rod Hi} to the left (Fig. 1) and thus the pawl and ratchet mechanism 91 is actuated to advance the chain conveyor forward one step, thereby advancing the switch actuator pin 45, which last cammed open the contact I35 of the switch I36, and disengaging the same from the switch I36 and permitting the contact I35 to close for energizing a solenoid type relay I45, which will stay energized over a circuit from the conductor I42 until the contact I35 is again cammed open by the next succeeding actuator pin 45 on the chain conveyor. When the relay I45 is thus energized, it will break the circuit through the timers I 31 and I38 at contacts I49, thus restoring the timing devices to their inoperative conditions. At the same time, a holding circuit to the solenoid I40 will be maintained over a path from the conductor I42 through the solenoid I40 and upper relay contacts I to conductor I43 until an actuator pin 45 opens the contact I35 of the switch I86, whereupon the relay I45 will be deenergized and its upper contacts I46 will be opened and its lower contacts I49 will be closed. The opening of the upper relay contacts I46 opens the holding circuit for the solenoid I40, whereupon a spring I5! attached to a movable core I 52 of the solenoid pulls the core downwardly to its normal inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 6, and by means of a valve actuating lever I53, .pivotally connected to the core, the valve I I8 is actuated to out the air pressure oil from the cylinder I09 and the pawl I l l and connected parts are returned to their normal positions (Fig. 1) in the manner previously described. The closing of the lower relay contacts I49 will reinitiate a cycle of the timers I31 and I38 to connect the source of high frequency current I26 to the brazing coil I23, in the manner previously described, after a period of two seconds and the cycle above described is then repeated in succession every two minutes.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for conveying an article into the cavity of a heating means having upwardly extending sides to form a channel-shaped cavity for receiving an article to be heated, comprising a horizontally movable flexible conveyor, a carrier freely suspended therefrom for carrying an article supporting fixture, said carrier having a hook portion at its lower end provided with a horizontally disposed flat face from which the fixture is suspended, movable means on said car--.

rier for movement into operative position relative to the fixture to prevent dislodgment of the fixture from said carrier, and guide means for causing a portion of said conveyor to form a downwardly extending loop in its advance for lowering said carrier to move an article into the cavity of the heating means.

2. An apparatus for conveying an article into the cavity of a heating means having upwardly extending sides to form a channel-shaped cavity for receiving an article to be heated, comprising a horizontally movable flexible conveyor, a car-- rier freely suspended therefrom for carrying an article supporting fixture, said carrier having a hook portion at its lower end provided with a horizontally disposed flat face from which the fixture is suspended, a pivotal lever on said carrier having an arc-shaped end face for movement into operative position relative to said horizontally disposed flat face of the fixtur to prevent dislodgment of the fixture from said carrier, and guide means for causing a portion of said conveyor to form a downwardly extending loop in its advance for lowering said carrier to move an article into the cavity of the heating means.

7 ROCCO J. DETUNO.

HOWARD W. GARBE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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